Car loading block

ABSTRACT

A car loading block for holding a load of containers from movement in a railroad car includes a rectangular sleeve of a length to extend from the stacked load to the railroad car wall or other wall. A filler comprising a pair of intersecting corrugated panels extends through the sleeve and beyond at least one end thereof. The portion of the filler extending beyond the sleeve extends between the similar sized containers and holds the sleeve between the load and the wall.

[11 3,861,538 Jan. 21, 1975 United States Patent [191 Locke I v 5Pierce..............................

[ CAR LOADING BLOCK 105/369 S 105/367 X 3,534,691 10/1970 Carlomagno,105/369 B 2,608,165 8/1952 3,421,451 l/1969 Brucks..................

[75] Inventor: Frank W. Locke, Minneapolis,

Minn.

Primary Exar ninerFrank E. Werner Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert M.Dunning; Jerry F. Best [73] Assignee: I-Ioerner Waldorf Corp., Ramsey,

Minn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A car loading block forholding aload of containers from'movement in a railroad car includes arectangular sleeve of a length to extend from the stacked load to therailroad car wall or other wall. A filler compris [21] Appl. No.:420,894

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ing a pair of intersecting corrugated panels extendsthrough the sleeveand beyond at leastone end 105/369 BA, 367 369 B; 214/l0.5 R; 229/14thereof. The portion of the filler extending beyond the sleeve extendsbetween the similar sized containers and holds the sleeve between theload and the wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures2,475,719 Pierce..............................105/369 S PATENTEB JANZ 1I975 SHEET 10F 2 1. CAR LOADING BLOCK This invention relates to animprovement in car loading block and deals particularly with a spacerfor holding a series of containers of equal size in-suitably spacedrelation to a parallel retaining wall such a railway car wall.

i BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For many years difficulty has beenexperienced in the shipping of containers filled with products of onetype or another in railroad cars without damage to the product. It isseldom that-containers of one product or another fit within a railroadcar snuggly enough so that they need not be held from shifting duringtransportation. Usually, when the containers are of equal size, thecontainers are stacked against one end wall of the car and against oneof the sidewalls. A wooden barricade is built up between the load ofcontainers and the opposite wall of the railroad car so as to preventmovement of the containers toward this other wall. In other cases, rowsof containers are built up against an end wall and both of the sidewalls'thereof. lnthis case, a wooden barricade is built up between therows of containers on opposite sides of the car; The building of such awall is not only time consuming but also expensive. Furthermore, awooden barricade is often difficult to build, particularly where thespace between the load of containers and the railroad car wall orbetween rows of containers is relatively short. In such a case, thebarricade must be built as the containers are loaded into the car, asafter the load is completed, there is insufficient space between theload and the wall of the railroad car to permit the erection of such awall.

Various devices other than wooden barricades have been provided forfilling this empty space in a railway car to prevent the shifting of theload. One such means comprises inflatable flat bags which may beinserted in the empty space and may be inflated as the load is built upor may be inserted in the empty space and inflated after the load iscomplete. Such inflatable bags are obviously costly, and are notdisposable. Accordingly,

after use, the bags must be preserved and returned tothepoint ofshipment for further'use. This creates an extra expense, and usuallyresults in some loss. Thus it is usually preferable to erect a barricadefrom wood or other such material which is disposable and need not bereturned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION l have found thata very inexpensive car loadingblock may be formed of corrugated paperboard. Contin ued tests havefound that loading blocks can effectainers, the load within the car canbe readily restrained from movement toward the spaced wall.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a spacerblock including a filler having panels which intersect at right angles.One of these panels overlies the upper panel of two adjoiningcontainers, while the right angular panel extends between the containerswhich are in side-by-side relation. Where the containers are stacked oneabove the other, the horizontal panels may overlie the upper surfaces ofthe containers in the lowermost layer, and may extend beneath the uppertier of containers. As aresult, the corners of four containers which-areadjoining can be held from movement toward the wall of the car.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that by formingthe rectangular sleeve with the corrugations extending longitudinally ofthe sleeve, the sleeves are extremely'resistent to cruching. With thepresent arrangement, one panel of the corrugated sleeve engages againsteach of the four containers of the stack, effectively holding the loadfrom shifting.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of acar loading block which may be used to hold the uppermost layer ofcontainers from movement toward the railroad car wall. In such an event,the lower portion of one filler member extends between the containerswhile the other panel rests upon the top of conveyers. When once engagedin place, the sleeves are prevented from tilting or shifting byengagement with the containers and the wall, so that the movement of theload is effectively prevented.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of acar loading block which can be produced at a minimum of cost. The onlyveriable in producing the blocks is the length of the sleeve whichdiffers as the space between the load and the railway car wall differs.The length of the fillers may remain constant for the accomodation ofvarious lengths of sleeves. In other words, the tillers may remainconstant for sleeves of two or three inch lengths or tenor twelve inchlengths as long as the fillers-exceed the length of the sleeves by areasonable amount. The sleeves may be produced in units which-areseveral feet in length, and

the sleeves may be cut off to form sleeves of the desired length. Thusonce the length of sleeve is determined to accomodate a certain load'andcertain car, sleeves may be cut of the proper length to accomodate thisload and car.

I have found that an effective car loading block may be formed employingasquare sleeveof corrugated pa.- perboard and a filler of corrugatedpaperboard comprising a pair of intersecting panels where only one panelexceeds the length of the sleeve. l have found that the blocks may beeffectively anchored if the extending end of the filler extends betweenthe upper surface of one container and the lower surface of a super- I.imposed container. Thisstructure has theadvantage edges of the panelsengage into the corners of the sleeve. This filler is somewhat longerthan the sleeve so as to project from one end thereof. The projectingend of the filler may accordingly be placed to fit between adjacentcontainers so as to be firmly secured in place. By inserting suchstructures between equal siZe conthat it need not extend between thecorners of the containers, and two or more blocks may extend betweeneach container and the wall.

An additional feature of my invention liesin the fact that one linerpanel may be completely enclosed withina sleeve, while both ends of theother liner panel may extend beyond the. sleeve ends. A block of thistype is useful where rows of containers are built up against both sidewalls of the car. The extending ends of a filler may be rested upon theupper ends of two spaced con tainers, with the sleeve engaging the wallsof these containers. Two containers may be rested upon the spacedcontainers to hold the four containers in spaced relation.

These and other objects, and 'novel features of the present invention,may be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specificationand claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic viewindicating an end portion ofa railroad car with a series of containerstherein, showing the car loading blocks in place. I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single car loading block.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view vertically through a car loading block inplace between a pair of superimposed containers.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of one of the filler panels.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the other filler panel.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the car loading block.

FIG. 7 isan exploded view showing the tiller in spaced relation to thesleeve.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic. perspective view of anend of. a railway car,showing another form of loading block.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the loading block shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the intersecting panels formingthe liner for the block shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another modified form ofloadingblock.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the loading block shown in FIG. '11.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of the intersecting panels formingthe filler in the .loading block of FIGS. 11 and 12.

The car loading blocks are perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7of the drawings. As is indicated in FIG. 7, each car loading blockincludes a square sleeve of corrugated paperboard or the like havingside panels 10, 11, 12-, and 13 connected along parallel fold lines 14.A stitch or glue flap 15 is connected to one end panel of the series,for example the panel 13, and is secured to the surface of the other endpanel of the series, for example the panel 10, and the glue flap 15 isstitched or otherwise secured to a surface of the panel The blocks Aalso include a filler which is indicated p in general by the numeral 17.The filler 17 is formed of'the panels 19 and 20 which are shown in FIGS.4 and 5 of the drawings. The panels 19 and 20 are actually identical inform and each panel includes a slot 21 intermediatebetween its sideedges 22, the slots 21 extending one half of the length of the panels 19and 20. As a result, these panels 19 and 20 may interfit with another toform a cross-shaped filler with the panels extending in right angularrelations. The panels 19 and 20 are of equal length and are somewhatgreater in length than the length of the square sleeves.

As indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, when the sleeve is erected intorectangular form, the filler 17 may be inserted in an end thereof sothat one end 23 may be flush with an end of the sleeve, and the otherend of the filler may project beyond the other end of the sleeve. Eachof the panels Hand 20 extend diagonally of the sleeve 9 so that theparallel longitudinal edges 22 engage the corners of the sleeve betweenad- 5 joining panels and adjacent the fold lines 14 connecting thepanels together.

FIG. 1 of the drawings indicates the manner in which the car loadingblocks A are used. A railroad car body is indicated diagrammatically bythe letter C, and the car C is indicated as having a floor 24, an endwall 25 extending upwardly at an end of the floor, and parallel sidewalls 25 and 26 extending upwardly along opposite sides of the floor. Asis also indicated in this figure, the containers B are placed in rows27, 29 and 30, the containers of thetrows being in face contact. Onewall of the containers B of the row 27 are in face contact with the wall25, and a right angular wall at the end of each row is in face contactwith the end wall 25. The walls of the containers which are oppositethose engaging the railway car wall 25 are in spaced relation to theside wall 26 of the car. A plank 31 may be nailed to the floor betweenthe load of containers B and the wall 26 if it is desired, but such aplank has been found unnecessary in actual practice. I

As thebody of containers is built up, the lower tier of containersnormally supports a similar layer or tier. As indicated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, a transverse row of containers 8 of containers is usuallypositioned before the similar superimposed containers B are placed ontop of them. As shown in this figure, a block A is inserted betweenadjoining corners of three containers by merely wedging them apartsufficiently so that the panel such as 20 may rest upon the uppersurfaces of two adjoining containers of the outermost row. In actualpractice, this is not as difficult as it may seem, do to the fact thatthe walls of the containers tend to bulge. A transverse row ofcontainers B are placed upon the containers of the transverse rowtherebeneath, and the various rows may be added one at a time, and thespacer blocks or car loading blocks may be added as the erection of thewall continues.

When two layers or tiers of containers are provided 7 in the railroadcar, usually the lower tier of containers will present a flat surface onwhich the second tier of containers may be supported, and it isunnecessary to hold the upper ends of the upper tierfrom tilting.However, if it is desired, the blocks A may be also inserted between theupper ends of the containers and the wall 26. When once in place, theblocks A holding the upper tier of containers B from tilting are held inplace from slipping down between adjoining tiers by the horizontalflanges of the panels 20 resting upon the upper surfaces of thecontainers B. Due to the fact that the sleeves 9 till the space betweenthe containers and the car wall, they cannot very well tilt out ofplace, and accordingly remain in place in spite of'the fact that onlythe portion of'the projecting end of the panel 19 which is below thelevel of the panel 20 is engaged between the containers.

FIGS. 8 to 10 of the drawings show a modified form of loading block Dwhich may take the place-of the loading block A. In this construction, arectangular sleeve 32 is provided identical to the sleeve 9 previouslyshown. The sleeve 9 is of a length to fit the space between thecontainers B and the railway car wall 26.

The fillers 33 are of the form illustrated in FIGS. 9

and 10. One filler panel 34 is of similar length to the sleeve 33, andis wholly contained within the sleeve to add to the compressive strengthof the loading block D. The other panel 35 is of a length to projectbeyond one end of the sleeve. The slots 36 and 37 in-the panels 34 and35 respectively are of a length equal to one half the length of thepanel 34.-

As indicated in FIG. 8, the blocks D may be applied to the uppersurfaces of the containers B in the lower row of containers (such as therow 30). Due to the fact that the blocks D need not fit between thecorners of the containers, they may fit anywhere along the length of thecontainers. The blocks D are particularly useful when the containers areof considerable length. The term length is meant to describe thedimension of the container which is parallel to the side walls 25 and 26of the car.

The loading blocks-illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 of the drawings are ofuse where the rows of containers are stacked to provide the empty spacebetween longitudinal rows of containers. In FIG. 11, the rows 27 and 29are in contacting relation along the car wall 25,

while the row 30 of containers are stacked along the car wall 26. Thisprovides a dunnage space between the containers B and the containers B.

The loading block E appears as best illustrated in FIG. 12. The squaresleeve 39 is identical in shape and form to the sleeves 9 and 32 whichhave been described. These sleeves 39 are formed of proper length to fitbetween the containers B and'B of the rows 29 and 30. i

The fillers 40 are formed as illustrated as in illustrated in FIG. 13.One panel 41 is substantially equal in length to the length of thesleeve 39. The other panel 42 is of a lengthto extend beyond bothends ofthe sleeve 39. The slot 43 in the panel 41 is'one half the length ofthis panel. The slot 44 in the panel 42 extends 1 one half the length ofthis panel. Accordingly, when interfitted together, the panel 41 iscentrally located between the ends of the panel 42, as indicated in FIG.12'.

The loading blocks E are applied by placingeach block to span the spacebetween the containers B and the containers B, with the sleeves 39extending between-thecontainers B and B. The projecting ends of thepanels 42 rest upon the upper surfaces ofthe lower tiers of containersas shown in FIG. 11. The blocksE take the place of barricades andpreventthe spacedv containers B and B from sliding toward one another duringmovement of the cars.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in CAR LOADING BLOCK;and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to haveit understood that obvious changes may be made within thescope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A car loading block for use in holding a load of similarly sizedcontainers in spaced relation to a railto panels engaging diagonallyopposite corners of said rectangular sleeve, at least a portion of thefiller extending beyond one end of said sleeve.

2. The block of claim 1 and in which the corrugations of said sleeveextending parallel to the axis thereof.

3. A car loading block in combination with a pair of adjoiningcontainers of equal height having coplanar walls in spaced parallelrelation to a railway car wall, the car loading block including:

a square sleeve of corrugated paperboard of a length substantially equalto the distance between said coplanar walls and said railway car wall,

a filler within said sleeve,

said filler comprising a pair of rectangular paperboard panels slottedto intersect at right angles to one another, each panel extendingdiagonally of said sleeve with-opposite panel edges engaging diagonallyopposite corners of said. sleeve,

an end of one of said panels projecting beyond said sleeve and restingupon the upper surfaces of said containers.

4. The combination of claim 3 and including a second pair'of containersresting upon said first named pair of containers with corners ofsaidsecond pair of containers resting upon the projecting ends of said onepanel.

5. Thestructureof claim 4 and including a projecting end on the other ofsaid filler panels extending between the adjoining corners of said pairsof containers.

6. A series of spacers for holding containers in spaced relation to aretaining wall, the containers being rectangular and of equal height,width and thickness, said containers being arranged in two rows, thecontainers of one row being in superimposed relation upon the containersof the other row with the adjoining walls of the containers of one rowdirectly'above'the adjoining walls of the containers'of the other rowand with one coplanar wall of the containers of both rows lying inspaced parallel relation to said retaining wall, said spacers eachcomprising:

a square sleeve of corrugated papergo ard of a length substantiallyequal to the distance between said coplanar wall and said retainingw-all,

a filler in said sleeve and extending beyond one end of the same, i

said filler comprising a pair of rectangular panels each slotted midwaybetween their parallel sides an extendingportion on one of said panelsoverlying the top surfaces of said adjoining containers of said one rowand beneath the lower surfaces of overlying containers of said the otherrow.

7. The structure'of claim 6 and including extending portions on theotherof said panels extending between the adjacent vertical walls of saidadjoining containers.

8. A car loading block in combination with containers arranged in twospaced apart parallel rows, the containers being of equal height, theblock including:

a square sleeve of corrugated paperboard of a length substantially equalto the distance between said spaced rows,

a filler comprising a pair of panels slotted to intersect at rightangles to one another, each panel extending diagonally of said sleevewith opposite panel edges engaging diagonally opposite corners of saidsleeve,

3,861 ,5 38 7 8 one of said panels extending beyond said sleeve tosuperimposed upon said containers of said spaced rows rest upon theupper surfaces of opposed containers and resting upon said projectingends of said one panel of said rows. of said filler. 9. The structure ofclaim 8 and including containers

1. A car loading block for use in holding a load of similarly sizedcontainers in spaced relation to a railroad car wall, the blockincluding: a square sleeve of corrugated paperboard of a lengthsubstantially equal to the distance between the containers and the carwall, a filler including a pair of slotted panels of corrugatedpaperboard, the panels being slotted to intersect one another at rightangles and the edges of the panels engaging diagonally opposite cornersof said rectangular sleeve, at least a portion of the filler extendingbeyond one end of said sleeve.
 2. The block of claim 1 and in which thecorrugations of said sleeve extending parallel to the axis thereof.
 3. Acar loading block in combination with a pair of adjoining containers ofequal height having coplanar walls in spaced parallel relation to arailway car wall, the car loading block including: a square sleeve ofcorrugated paperboard of a length substantially equal to the distancebetween said coplanar walls and said railway car wall, a filler withinsaid sleeve, said filler comprising a pair of rectangular paperboardpanels slotted to intersect at right angles to one another, each panelextending diagonally of said sleeve with opposite panel edges engagingdiagonally opposite corners of said sleeve, an end of one of said panelsprojecting beyond said sleeve and resting upon the upper surfaces ofsaid containers.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and including a secondpair of containers resting upon said first named pair of containers withcorners of said second pair of containers resting upon the projectingends of said one panel.
 5. The structure of claim 4 and including aprojecting end on the other of said filler panels extending between theadjoining corners of said pairs of containers.
 6. A series of spacersfor holding containers in spaced relation to a retaining wall, thecontainers being rectangular and of equal height, width and thickness,said containers being arranged in two rows, the containers of one rowbeing in superimposed relation upon the containers of the other row withthe adjoining walls of the containers of one row directly above theadjoining walls of the containers of the other row and with one coplanarwall of the containers of both rows lying in spaced parallel relation tosaid retaining wall, said spacers each comprising: a square sleeve ofcorrugated papergoard of a length substantially equal to the distancebetween said coplanar wall and said retaining wall, a fillEr in saidsleeve and extending beyond one end of the same, said filler comprisinga pair of rectangular panels each slotted midway between their parallelsides and interfitted together in right angular relation, said panelsextending diagonally across said sleeve with said parallel edgesengaging opposite corners of said sleeve, an extending portion on one ofsaid panels overlying the top surfaces of said adjoining containers ofsaid one row and beneath the lower surfaces of overlying containers ofsaid the other row.
 7. The structure of claim 6 and including extendingportions on the other of said panels extending between the adjacentvertical walls of said adjoining containers.
 8. A car loading block incombination with containers arranged in two spaced apart parallel rows,the containers being of equal height, the block including: a squaresleeve of corrugated paperboard of a length substantially equal to thedistance between said spaced rows, a filler comprising a pair of panelsslotted to intersect at right angles to one another, each panelextending diagonally of said sleeve with opposite panel edges engagingdiagonally opposite corners of said sleeve, one of said panels extendingbeyond said sleeve to rest upon the upper surfaces of opposed containersof said rows.
 9. The structure of claim 8 and including containerssuperimposed upon said containers of said spaced rows and resting uponsaid projecting ends of said one panel of said filler.